Mikko Juusola

This fully funded PhD project, part of the BBSRC Yorkshire Bioscience Doctoral Training Partnership (YBDTP), investigates how neural circuits in the brain compensate for natural environmental changes, focusing on homeostatic plasticity. The research addresses a fundamental question in neuroscience: how do brains maintain stable function despite natural perturbations such as temperature changes? Using the fruit fly (Drosophila) as a model, the project explores how developmental temperature affects brain wiring and synaptic connections, and how the brain compensates to maintain consistent neural activity. The research will employ advanced techniques including electrophysiology, calcium imaging, genetic tagging, and computational modelling to test hypotheses about the roles of inhibitory circuits and intrinsic neuronal properties in maintaining neural stability. The successful candidate will receive interdisciplinary training in experimental and theoretical neuroscience, including live-brain recordings, molecular labelling, quantitative image analysis, and computational modelling. The project is supervised by Dr Andrew Lin and Prof Mikko Juusola at the University of Sheffield's School of Biosciences, within a collaborative team with expertise in electrophysiology, in vivo imaging, Drosophila genetics, and computational neuroscience. The YBDTP offers a vibrant regional doctoral training programme, supporting researchers across multiple Yorkshire and Teesside universities. The studentship is open to UK, EU, and international students, with a competitive selection process and a limited number of full studentships for exceptional international applicants. Funding includes a tax-free stipend at the UKRI rate (£20,780 for 2025/26), research costs, and tuition fees at the UK rate for four years. Applicants should have or expect at least an upper second-class honours degree in a relevant field (biological, chemical, or physical sciences, or mathematics), and demonstrate motivation to bridge experiments and theory in neuroscience. The programme values diversity and encourages applications from underrepresented groups. The application deadline is 7 January 2026, with interviews in February 2025. For more information or to apply, visit the YBDTP website or contact the supervisors directly.